Statement by United Nations Foundation President & CEO, Kathy Calvin on the outcomes of the UN’s Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.

July 22, 2014

“This weekend the United Nations’ Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals completed an historic process, and the outcome of that work represents an important milestone in the effort to set the framework for the world’s international development goals in 2015 through 2030.

“The world is currently focused on the Millennium Development Goals, set in 2000 as a guide for global development priorities through 2015. The MDGs have galvanized a global anti-poverty effort that has prompted incredible progress in health, education, and gender equality.

“Even as it continues the effort to optimize progress against the MDGs the UN has taken on a first-of-its kind effort to frame the next set of goals through global consultations with member states, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and citizens around the world. The Open Working Group – a key thread in that global, multi-pronged effort – was established to develop a set of recommendations to the UN General Assembly on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

“Seventy UN member states have worked over a year and a half to lay the foundation for a truly transformative development agenda to continue the progress of the Millennium Development Goals. The outcomes of their work represent significant step forward on a set of global challenges that we collectively aim to tackle to achieve a better more equitable world in 2030.

“The recommendations aim to finish the job of the MDGs on poverty, hunger, health, gender, and education, while addressing additional challenges such as climate change, inequality, economic growth, sustainable energy, and peaceful and capable institutions.

“The process of formulating the post-2015 development agenda will continue over the next year, ahead of a September 2015 Summit. In the meantime, we can all be grateful to the members of the working group and the co-chairs, Ambassador Macharia Kamau of Kenya and Ambassador Csaba Korosi of Hungary, for a process that has fostered a common understanding among member states on complex, and often difficult, issues. They skillfully navigated a complicated process and created an atmosphere of inclusivity and mutual respect among countries, while consistently pushing member states to be guided by the need for this agenda to be transformative.”

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About The United Nations FoundationThe United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.